THE IMPLEMENTS OF THE FARM. 13 



A set should fit a common handle. Weeding clips, and 

 spuds, and weed extractors, are used for cutting thistles in 

 crops and pastures. Docks should be pulled up by extrac- 

 tors, together with all other weeds that can be uprooted. 



Haymaking Machines, Horse Rakes, Loaders, and 

 Stackers. The first patent in England for a hay-making 

 machine of rotating forks for lifting and tossing the grass 

 lying in swathes from the scythe, was granted to Mr. R. 

 Salmon, "VYoburn, Beds, engineer to His Grace the Duke 

 of Bedford, 1814. Since then upwards of 50 patents have 

 been granted for improvements, of which four peculiarities 

 of construction require description. 



Generally they are rotating cylindrical frames, driven 

 rapidly on a horizontal axis, and furnished with teeth, which 

 toss the grass or swathe over which they are drawn. These 

 fork-barrels are now preferably made in three sets from 

 wheel to wheel along the axis and the sets are placed zig- 

 zag, for the purpose of equalising the action of the forks and 

 preventing clogging. The height of the forks from the 

 ground, the different speeds, and the change in the direction 

 of revolution from back to forward action are regulated with- 

 out stopping. When the tine barrels rotate in the direction 

 the horse moves, throwing the grass over the machine, it is 

 termed forward action, and when they rotate in the opposite 

 direction, lifting the grass behind, it is termed back action. 

 In back-action haymakers, the tines are nearly straight, and 

 adjustable as to pitch. There is no tendency to clog. In 

 combined back-and-forward hay-makers, the pitch of the tines 

 is adjustable, so that in the forward overhead action they can 

 be set to suit light or heavy crops ; and the same for back- 

 ward action. In hooded haymakers, a light sheet-iron hood 



